CARTON PACKING APPARATUS

Abstract: There is provided carton packing apparatus comprising a number of equispaced guide members (30) travelling in an endless path attached to a drive chain (27). The guide members (30) are adapted to engage a panel (12, 13) of a paperboard carton blank (10) between successive members (30) at the hinge region (18) between said panel (12) and other panels (16). Associated with each guide member (30) is an engagement element (35) which terminates in a foot (37). The engagement elements move with the guide members (30), but by virtue of a redirected guide portion (40) move relative to the associated guide member to urge the rearmost other panel (16) forwards. Guide surfaces (41, 44) also assist in the forming of the carton.

Description: CARTON PACKING APPARATUS This invention relates to carton packing apparatus. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use with a machine for packing cartons, each carton being formed from a blank having a first panel hingedly connected at opposite edges to respective second panels, said apparatus comprising: a series of spaced guide members adapted for travel in an endless path, the distance between the guide members being such that the first panel of successive blanks is engaged between successive guide members in the region of the hinge lines between the second panels and said first panel. Preferably said first panel is a side panel and said second panels are end panels, the side panel being hingedly attached to a top panel which in use of the apparatus is held against movement relative to the contents of the carton. A further preferred feature is that a second series of guide members is provided for a second side panel on the opposite side of the top panel. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use with a machine for packing cartons, each carton being formed from a blank having a top panel hingedly connected at opposite edges to first and second side panels each of which is connected to a base panel, which blank is wrapped around the contents of the carton and the base panels secured, there being gusset arrangements at each open end between each side panel and the top panel and/or the base panel, each gusset arrangement comprising a tuck panel hingedly connected to the side panel and to one or more gusset panels, which in turn is/are connected to the top panel and/or the base panel, said apparatus comprising: a series of spaced guide members adapted for travel in an endless path, the distance between the guide members being such that the first side panels of successive blanks are engaged between successive guide members whilst the top panel is held against movement relative to said contents, each side panel being engaged in the region of the hinge lines between the tuck panels and the first side panels, at least one guide member for each first side panel being associated with an engagement member which is movable relative to said one guide member so as to engage the tuck flap associated with said one guide member so as to urge the tuck flap towards a position lying adjacent the first side panel. Preferably each guide member is adapted to constitute a rear guide for one side panel and a front guide for a following side panel and the engagement member engages the rearmost tuck flap associated with the side panel. In a preferred arrangement said engagement member comprises a link member terminating in a foot, said link member being pivotally connected to said one guide member such that the foot can move forward of the guide member to engage the tuck flap. Said link member and the foot lie between said one guide member and the contents, adjacent said one guide member. A further preferred feature is that the leading edge of the foot adjacent the guide member is chamfered. Conveniently the link member has a pin which engages in a groove thereby determining the orientation of the pin relative to said one guide member throughout its path and the groove is shaped so as to project the foot once the side panel is engaged between the guide members. In a preferred embodiment the foremost tuck flap associated with the side panel engages a stationary guide wall as the blank and contents advances along the packing line, said guide wall urging said foremost flap back towards a position lying against the side panel. An additional feature is that a vertical rotating wheel is provided just outwardly of the path of the guide members, which wheel supports the side panel as the foremost tuck panel engages the stationary guide surface. Preferably the wheel has equispaced segments of its circumference removed corresponding to the locations of the guide members. In preferred applications the apparatus comprises an identical arrangement for the second side panels . An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figures la, lb, lc and Id show examples of types of carton blank which may be used with the apparatus of the present invention, Figure 2 shows a side view on arrow A of figure 4 of apparatus according to the present invention , Figure 3 shows a close up view of part of the figure 2 apparatus, Figure 4 is a cross section taken on line IV- iv of figure 2, Figure 5 shows a close-up, perspective view from one side of an engagement element shown in figures 2, 3 and 4, and Figure 6 is a close-up perspective view from the other side of the engagement element shown in figure 5. In figures la, lb and lc there are shown blanks 10 having a top panel 11, first and second side panels 12, 13 and base panels 14, 15. The blanks also show gusset arrangements comprising tuck panels 16 and gusset panels 17. In use, the tuck panels 16 lie generally against the respective side panels 12, 13 whilst the gusset panels 17 serve to obstruct the otherwise open ends of the sleeve-like carton. The various panels 11 to 17 are connected along hinge lines 18. The following briefly points out the differences between the illustrated examples of blanks for "gussetted cartons". Figure la has a single tuck panel 16 associated with a pair of gusset panels 17 attached to both top and base panels 11, 14, 15. Figure lb has a single tuck panel 16 and gusset panel 17 associated with the top panel 11 whilst figure lc has a single tuck panel 16 and gusset panel 17 associated with the base panels 14, 15. All of the above examples, together with other gussetted cartons are adapted for use with the following apparatus although positional and dimensional alterations may be required. Figures 2 to 4 show apparatus 20 for use in a machine used for wrapping a blank 10 of the type shown in figure la above around a plurality of cans 21. Not all of the actions of the machine will be described for simplicity. The cans 21 are conveyed two abreast along the lengthwise axis of the machine by lower conveyor 22. The blanks 10 are automatically fed on to the cans 21 and are held against the cans 21 by an upper conveyer 23 which is run at the same speed as the lower conveyor 22 and which has registration lugs 24 for engagement with associated recesses 25 in the blanks 10. The side panels 12, 13 and other dependent panels hang down at an angle from the top panel 11 ready to be wrapped around the cans 21. Disposed either side of the lengthwise axis of the machine is the apparatus 20. The operation of the apparatus 20 on each side is identical and so only one side will be described. The apparatus 20 comprises a guide block 26 which carries an endless chain 27 in a chain groove 28, the chain being driven at the same speed as the upper and lower conveyors 22, 23. Equispaced along the chain 27 are attached guide elements 29 carrying guide members 30 in the form of lugs each having a rear guide surface 31 and a forward guide surface 32. As the cans 21 and blanks 10 are fed along the axis of the machine the guide members 30 engage the side panel 12 of the successive blanks 10. Each guide member 30 engages the rear edge of first side panel 12 and the forward edge of a second, following side panel 12 by virtue of forward guide surface 32 and rear guide surface 31 respectively. The distance between the forward guide surface 32 of one guide member 30 and the rear guide surface 31 of the leading guide member 30 is generally identical to the width of the side panel 12 between the hinge lines 18 connecting the tuck panels 16 to the side panel 12. The guide members have a curved lower edge 33 which engages the tuck panels 16 of the blank 10 and urges the tuck panels 16 inwards before the guide surfaces 31, 32 engage the side panel 12 at the said hinge lines 18. Attached to each guide element 29 on pivot 34 is an engagement element 35 comprising a link 36 terminating in a foot 37. As is more clearly shown in figures 5 and 6 the foot 37 is provided with a rounded top outer edge 45, a rounded lower inner edge 46 and a chamfered toe portion 47 on its inner side. The chamber portion 47 extends generally vertically when the foot 37 is in its retracted position. These features assist in the correct operation of the engagement element 35. The element 35 carries a pin 38 which is received in a second groove 39 in the guide block 26. For most of the endless path of the guide elements 29, the links 36 lie adjacent the associated guide members 30, on the side nearer the central lengthwise axis of the machine. However the second groove 39 has a misaligned portion 40 which causes the links 36 to pivot relative to the guide elements 29. This in turn results in the foot 37 projecting forwards of the forward guide surface 32 of the guide member 30. This movement of the foot 37 is timed to occur after the side panel 12 is engaged between successive guide members 30. The result of this foot movement is to urge the rear tuck panel 16 into engagement with the inside surface of the side panel 12 of the blank 10. The apparatus also provides a guide wall 41 which engages the leading tuck panel 16 of an approaching blank 10 and folds this tuck panel 16 against the inside surface of the side panel 12. The location of the guide wall 41 relative to the misaligned portion 40 of the second guide groove 39 is such that the rear tuck panel 16 of an approaching blank 10 is urged towards its side panel sufficiently for the rear tuck panel 16 to be retained in its tucked position by said guide wall 41. In such a position it is possible for the machine to hinge the side panels 12, 13 inwards so that the tuck panels 16 are retained in position by the cans 21. The machine can then secure the blank in any suitable manner, for example interlocking formations or adhesive. Also provided in the apparatus is a rotating wheel 42 having equispaced sections 43 removed from its circumference. The remaining sections 44 of the circumference are of such a length that rotation of the wheel 42 results in the guide members 30 and elements 35 being aligned with the sections 43. The remaining sections 44 support the side panel 12 as the guide members engage the side panels and as the leading tuck panel 16 is being engaged by the guide wall 41. The support provided by the wheel 42 prevents the side panel 12 from buckling undesirably during this action and ensures the correct hinging of the tuck panels relative to the side panels 12, 13. Many alternatives are of course possible. For example the guide elements 29 and the engagement elements 35 need not be connected but could be driven separately. Such alternatives would be readily apparent to the skilled reader. In some embodiments it is not even necessary to provide the engagement elements 35. With such embodiments it may only be necessary to fold a pair of panels relative to an intermediate panel. The blank 10 shown in figure Id is an example of such an embodiment. With the figure Id blank there are provided end panels 50 attached along hinge lines 18 to side panels 12, 13. As the top panel 11 of this blank 10 is fed on to its contents, the guide members 30 engage the end panels 50 and fold them about hinge lines 18 relative to the side panels so as to be generally perpendicular thereto. This is the general position of the end panels 50 in the finished carton. The above arrangements are suitable with unpitched packing lines where successive products are in direct contact with each other. It can also be used with pitched packing lines where there are gaps between groups of products being packed. This is of course the case with the figure Id blank where panels project beyond the forward and rear edges of the top and side panels. The apparatus can of course be used for packing lines for any type of product including cans, bottles, tetrabricks.

Claims: CLAIMS Apparatus for use with a machine for packing cartons, each carton being formed from a blank having a first panel hingedly connected at opposite edges to respective second panels, said apparatus comprising: a series of spaced guide members adapted for travel in an endless path, the distance between the guide members being such that the first panel of successive blanks is engaged between successive guide members in the region of the hinge lines between the second panels and said first panel. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first panel is a side panel and said second panels are end panels, the side panel being hingedly attached to a top panel which in use of the apparatus is held against movement relative to the contents of the carton. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein a second series of guide members is provided for a second side panel on the opposite side of the top panel. Apparatus for use with a machine for packing cartons, each carton being formed from a blank having a top panel hingedly connected at opposite edges to first and second side panels each of which is connected to a base panel, which blank is wrapped around the contents of the carton and the base panels secured, there being gusset arrangements at each open end between each side panel and the top panel and/or the base panel, each gusset arrangement comprising a tuck panel hingedly connected to the side panel and to one or more gusset panels, which in turn is/are connected to the top panel and/or the base panel, said apparatus comprising: a series of spaced guide members adapted for travel in an endless path, the distance between the guide members being such that the first side panels of successive blanks are engaged between successive guide members whilst the top panel is held against movement relative to said contents, each side panel being engaged in the region of the hinge lines between the tuck panels and the first side panels, at least one guide member for each first side panel being associated with an engagement member which is movable relative to said one guide member so as to engage the tuck flap associated with said one guide member so as to urge the tuck flap towards a position lying adjacent the first side panel. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each guide member is adapted to constitute a rear guide for one side panel and a front guide for a following side panel. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claims 4 or 5 wherein the engagement member engages the rearmost tuck flap associated with the side panel. 7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said engagement member comprises a link member terminating in a foot, said link member being pivotally connected to said one guide member such that the foot can move forward of the guide member to engage the tuck flap. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said link member and the foot lie between said one guide member and the contents, adjacent said one guide member. 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the leading edge of the foot adjacent the guide member is chamfered. 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the link member has a pin which engages in a groove thereby determining the orientation of the pin relative to said one guide member throughout its path and the groove is shaped so as to project the foot once the side panel is engaged between the guide members. 11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein the foremost tuck flap associated with the side panel engages a stationary guide wall as the blank and contents advances along the packing line, said guide wall urging said foremost flap back towards a position lying against the side panel. 12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 11 wherein a vertical rotating wheel is provided just outwardly of the path of the guide members, which wheel supports the side panel as the foremost tuck panel engages the stationary guide surface. 13 . Apparatus as c l aimed in c la im 12 where in the whe e l ha s e q u i s pa c e d s e gme n t s o f i t s circumference removed corresponding to the locations of the guide members .

Inventors: MUELLER ROLF, MUELLER, ROLF
Applicants: MUELLER ROLF, RIVERWOOD INT LTD, MUELLER, ROLF, RIVERWOOD INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65B11
IPC codes: B65B11